The structure needs one, and only one, fix: make deductible all payments to buy medical insurance. Right now you have the lunatic idea that an employer can deduct an insurance premium for an employee, but the employee can’t if he pays the premium directly.

Ah, the sweet, sweet logic of socialism.

Detach health insurance from employment, and/or level the pre-tax/post-tax playing field between employer-subsidized and individually-purchased coverage, and then let the consumer purchase the coverage that fits his needs, wants and budget. That is, get rid of the extravagant 50-state mandates for everything from in vitro fert. (I’m a 62-yr. old female, why should I have to pay for that?) to acupuncture, and let me buy what I want & can afford. Or, not buy, if that’s my choice. I’m using a HSA high-deductible account and coverage, and it’s a great incentive to make my life-style a healthy one – if I get sick, it’s MY money that I spend on basic health care.

Put $1.00 (or some other small sum) of each annual premium towards a state-administered fund for those who are truly indigent to access health services, but those funds should be spent for basic health care, NOT elective services, and there should be strict means testing to participate. If you choose to go without coverage that you can otherwise afford, then when you get sick, it’s your problem not mine: Sell your flat screen TV, your second car, and forgo that travel vacation. Learn responsibility. TAKE responsibility.

Yes. I suggest a totally unregulated approach. End all health care regulation in this country and let the chips fall as they may. Fire all of the bureaucrats and if they refuse, deport them to the nationalized health care paradise of their choice. I have confidence in the economic theory, both that of market and gift economies, that the aggregate utility will be greater than it is now in our current hybrid system o’crap.

However, if I am wrong, THEN we can apply our newly gained empirical knowledge to properly address the problem, either through the market or minimal regulation.

What we have now is broken. Other countries seem to be doing a better job than we are. Is it possible we can learn something from them? Our existing health care cost structure is like a tax that is choking the economy and makes us less competitive. Competition is not and has not done anything to help address this because the market for health care is not a competitive market…it is an oligopoly market.

Look at Bush’s genius Medicare drug benefit program where the program ends up paying more for drugs than private companies, veterans (VA), medicaid, and even the health insurance for government employees. All in the name of “competition” saving the day. Guess what? It isn’t working.

Leaving this problem to industry to solve hasn’t worked for 50 years.

I am the last person in the world to say we need nationalized health care, but we do need to do something radical and we need to do it now. Does anyone have any suggestions other than a regulated approach?

Imagine a line of Americans in hospital gowns, some missing ties, holding specimen cups and paperwork, in front of flashing sign “Wait here for next doctor”.

Monica Lewinsky’s ex-boyfriend’s wife probably knows which federal warehouse already has the signs. They’re bilingual.

http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/whats-so-bad-about-socialism-style-free-healthcare/

And while we’re at it, you might have heard of this guy:

http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/socialist-welfare-unbelievable-jerk-of-the-year/

Jump in with your usual enthusiasm, the water is great.

You guys are too fat, rich and happy anyway, you need to be brought down a notch or two and ‘universal health care’ will do that just fine. Osama wasted his time with the WTC, he shoulda subsidized Hillary and Obama – way more destructive.